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Landscaping the sidewalk leading to your house adds character and appeal to your home. Landscaped walkways can improve property value, may decrease water-pooling in the yard and improve run-off. It acts as an environment that butterflies and birds can enjoy and adds an element of security, providing an easy and accessible path to your house that is easily found and monitored.

The Sidewalk

A key ingredient to a great looking landscaped sidewalk is the sidewalk itself. If you choose to keep the existing one, ensure that any cracks are free of debris and weeds. You may even want to consider filling the crevices with sealer or cement once you clean them out. If you build a new walkway, consider these three key concerns – the shape of the walk, the width and the materials that you use. The shape of the walkway will be dictated by the size of your yard and style of your home. Choose an approach that will complement the architecture and the front entrance. The width of your sidewalk should, preferably, be five feet wide; wide enough for two people to walk together. The materials you use should be in keeping with the exterior of your house.

Flower Beds

Flower beds on either side of the walk add color and interest to the entrance of your home. Don't be afraid to curve the edges of the beds to add more appeal. Choose plants that won’t overpower the sidewalk or inhibit your guest from a clear path to the door. Select a variety of plants that offer a range of complementary colors with flowers and foliage that provide a diversity of texture and blooms throughout the growing season. You can also plant one type of bedding plant that blooms all season for a dramatic, solid mass of color along the entire length of sidewalk.

Shrubs

Shrubs can be added or used exclusively for a more sophisticated look. Keep them well-trimmed and well enough away from the edge of the sidewalk to prevent visitors from getting hung-up on the foliage. You may want to consider flowering shrubbery that provides color in the spring, or ones that have interesting leaf variegation.

Permits

Landscaping the area of sidewalk near the curb of your street can also add an attractive preamble to your walkway. To do so, you must apply for a landscaping permit. The San Francisco Department of Public Works requires a Sidewalk Landscaping Permit to ensure the garden is planted properly, looks attractive and is maintained regularly. When considering planting the area between the curb and the sidewalk, make sure you leave enough room for your guests to get out of their vehicles.

About the Author

Carrie Cross has been writing for profit and pleasure for more than 35 years. Her background includes business, real estate, entrepreneurship, management, health and nutrition. A registered nurse, she has published various pieces, including web content, numerous newspaper and magazine articles and columns and six books.

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Cross, Carrie. "Landscaping Ideas for Along Sidewalks Leading to the House." Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/landscaping-ideas-along-sidewalks-leading-house-40752.html. Accessed 14 September 2019.

Cross, Carrie. (n.d.). Landscaping Ideas for Along Sidewalks Leading to the House. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/landscaping-ideas-along-sidewalks-leading-house-40752.html

Cross, Carrie. "Landscaping Ideas for Along Sidewalks Leading to the House" accessed September 14, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/landscaping-ideas-along-sidewalks-leading-house-40752.html

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